Researchers affiliated with the Vitamins and Lifestyle (VITAL) Study have reported that women receiving estrogen and progesterone hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for 10 years or more have an approximate 50% increased risk of developing lung cancer. The details of this study were published in the March 20, 2010 issue of the Journal of Clinical Oncology.1 

Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer death in both men and women. Non–small cell lung cancer accounts for roughly 85% of all lung cancer. Many women choose to undergo HRT in order to cope with the symptoms of menopause; however, research indicates that combined HRT regimens that include both estrogen and progestin may carry more risks than benefits, including an increased risk of stroke and breast cancer. Researchers affiliated with the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) have previously reported that HRT increases the risk of breast cancer and lung cancer among postmenopausal women. More recently, it was reported that menopausal women with lung cancer who receive combined HRT with estrogen plus progestin are 61% more likely to die from the disease than their counterparts who received placebo.

This study included 36,588 women from Washington State who were aged 50 to 76 when enrolled in the VITAL study in 2000 to 2002. Three-hundred forty-four cases of lung cancer were identified from Seattle-Puget Sound Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results cancer registry.

• Combined HRT for one to nine years was associated with a 27% increased risk of lung cancer.
• Combined HRT for 10 or more years was associated with a 48% increased risk of lung cancer.
• “There was no association with unopposed estrogen use.”
• “Duration of E+P use was associated with an advanced stage at diagnosis.”

Comments: These data confirm and add to the data from the WHI previously published.

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